Walker, Texas Ranger

Moral Rating:

usually OK

Primary Audience:

Teen to Adult

Genre:

Action / Drama

Length:

1 hr.

Starring: Chuck Norris

viewer comments…

Usually Okay—I think the show was a God send. At first it was questionable because of "world religions" brought into it. But if you've heard Chuck Norris's testimony you know he was saved when he was younger and left the faith but has now come back to it (explaining the mysticism and then abrupt change to Christianity recently.) If you have watched at all you would have noticed God and JESUS mentioned and even a few salvations happening on the screen! Also besides that the characters--his wife (on the
show), Trevet and Walker himself are all professing Christians in real
life! Love the show recommend the show to everybody 12 and up.

Clay Tallman, age 19

Avoid—I'm surprised this received a green. With all the talk about witchcraft and voodoo creeping into other shows, this show has turned into that same thing. I didn't really realize it til my husband pointed it out to me one evening when we started watching the show. He used to like the older shows, but the new shows have gotten way out of hand. It's a real shame.

Sheila Overturf, age 19

Usually Okay—I've watched Walker since its third season. My family used to watch it often. A couple seasons ago it got really into some of the New Age stuff; especially Indian Spiritualism but recently, since Chuck Norris became a Christian (or so I heard) it's gotten really good. In several episodes, Christianity has been prominent. In one of his two hour specials: Sons of Thunder, a pastor dies of a heart attack during his church softball game. That episode was the introduction of a church that has been prominently displayed in previous episodes. In one, the church is the target of hate crimes because the new pastor is black. Walker, Norris' character, helps to protect the pastor's family after a black boy is killed on the doorstep when mistaken for the pastor's son. The church is burned to the ground and Walker heads up a concert for the rebuilding fund. In another, a little girl from the church is shot in a driveby and brings together a neighborhood when she miraculously pulls through and her guardian angel tells her that she lived to make peace between the gang that shot her and the neighborhood. The earlier shows were so/so by the more recent have been pretty good morally; you never saw Walker and his girlfriend/fiance do anything immoral before they were married; and even spiritually. I can't recall an iffy show from last season or this one. It's a good show to watch if you can stand a little violence; there's almost always a fight between Walker, his partner, or the new team of Gage and Sydney and the bad guys. As for the martial arts aspect of it; there's no real spirituality involved in the more recent episodes and there are some Christian martial artists out there who use it as discipline for learning God's Word.

Sheila Overturf, age 19

Usually Okay—I hadn't watched “Walker” much, but one night, I came in and turned the TV on. It was on CBS, and it was the tail end of “Walker” (one of the Christmas episodes). I heard Chuck Norris say, "When Jesus was agonizing on the cross…" I almost passed out! I recorded the whole episode three hours later (with satellite we get east and west coast). Christians were portrayed in a positive light, not as narrow-minded idiots. Several references were made to the changes a former gang member had undergone when he accepted the Lord. This episode was more blatantly gospel-centered then "Touched by an Angel". The next few weeks, I tuned in again, and heard more of the same. Someone is really bringing the gospel to this show. I went to www.cbs.com and left them a feedback message saying how much I appreciated it. This is still not a show for young children and should still be viewed with discernment, but I will be watching more often!

Marie, age 29

Usually Okay—The character of Cordell Walker is an excellent role model - in one episode, he chose to save the life of the man who murdered his parents. I disagree with Brett Willis about this show and martial arts. Doug forgets that martial arts are not limited to Eastern fighting styles. Western arts like archery, boxing, fencing and wrestling also qualify as martial arts. Furthermore, as indicated by my examples, NOT ALL martial arts involve occult power. As a black belt in Taekwondo, I must point out that my endurance and agility are the result of intensive physical exercise - NOT evil spirits. It is all a matter of discernment…

Jack Burns, age 45

Avoid—My comments are about the fact that for 20 years Chuck Norris, through movies and TV, has lured kids into learning Martial Arts; and it's almost impossible to find a Martial Arts class that simply teaches self-defense without also conveying a "way of life" based on Buddhism or Taoism. In a typical class, students bow to the instructor and bow to the South Korean flag; often they also wear that flag as a uniform patch. The South Korean flag has two representations of the universal life force Ch'i (or Ki) as a balance of Yin and Yang. The physical and mental balance required of the Martial Artist is believed to be a picture and microcosm of this balance of the universe. According to the Bible, evil is temporary. It didn't exist in eternity past and will be removed from God's Kingdom in eternity future. But in Taoism, good and evil are coeternal; and evil is required for the “correct” balance of the universe. When a Martial Arts movie or TV hero who accepts this philosophy doesn't use his skills against someone for a small offense, he's doing the right thing but for the wrong reason. He doesn't believe that God will someday judge all evil; he believes some evil is necessary. Some Martial Arts feats are humanly impossible and clearly involve occult power. A recent late-night commercial for a certain Martial discipline showed its students taking undefended groin kicks and punches in the Adam's apple from College/NFL kickers and linemen. One student blindfolded himself and was punched in the head by four giant linemen at once, with no effect. The commercial promised that if you studied this system for twelve years, you could do the same thing. No, thank you. For more information, see the relevant entries in "Larson's Book of Cults" by Bob Larson.

This show makes me laugh. Violence? Well, I guess, but when every car that takes one or two bullets blows up with enough force to make you think they had a large truck bomb in the back seat, well… or when Walker takes on a hundred guys and they all come at him one at a time nice and slow so they each can individually get their backsides kicked… sorry, I just find it plain hilarious! The references to other religions as a kind of truth no doubt makes this simply inappropriate for children. But violent? Oh I dunno, I don't exactly shudder with terror when all that laughably Hollywierd stuff happens in the special effects.

Grant, age 26

Caution—Please exercise extreme caution with this program as there is substantial violence depicted. In some areas this program airs earlier than the 'originating station' and requires parental guidance to guide younger people - teens and children AWAY from this program. Try playing a board game with them instead.

Evelyn, age 32

Usually Okay—Rated TV-14 due to violence, this hour-long program stars Chuck Norris as Walker, Texas Ranger. With his expert use of martial arts, he and his sidekick continue to bring the bad guys down and keep Dallas (and the world) safe. While plenty of violence is shoved out, most of it is non-gruesome and the show is entertaining (though mostly to men). Let's face it—it is no doubt a "guy show". Norris won't be winning any acting awards, either. Take note that Walker occasionally deals with mysticism, Buddhism, Native American religions, etc. (and often gives them much credit as truth).

T.C., age 24

Caution—If you let your children watch this show without previewing it, I think you are making a mistake. This show has a great deal of violence. It does give fleeting nods in a positive way to Christianity, but sometimes Walker gets a little mystical on me. One good thing is that you do know who's good and who's bad. No gray areas there. On the other hand, the lack of gray areas often translates into lack of gray matter used to create the shows. One more thing, Chuck Norris says he wants to be a role model. If that's true Chuck, quit pushing cigars at your Dallas restaurant.

David Percival, age 40

Comments from young people

Usually Okay—This is a pretty good show, with very little profanity, or junk of any kind. I'm not so crazy about the Indian spirit stuff they bring in once & a while, but other than that, this show is fabulous. Almost every person has something they are most against. For some people, language is the worst thing. Others, sexual content. And for some, it's violence. I have the least problem with violence, because you have to realize, violence can't always be avoided, and sometimes you have to fight for the good, especially if you're a cop or a Texas Ranger as in this show. My only request is, if you don't like violence, that's fine. But please don't diss this show & turn others away from it. This show nearly always has a positive message, and isn't as sappy as Touched by an Angel, and God is brought into it (in a good way) on several occasions.